Apple registers new iPads and MacBooks in Eurasia

Apple has registered several new iPad and Mac models with the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), as reported by 9to5Mac and MacRumors. In previous instances, these filings have come just a few weeks before new product announcements — but not always. Apple is expected to introduce an iPad Pro with Face ID, slim bezels, and no home button, plus several new MacBooks over the next few months. Apple’s filings in the Eurasian database cover five new iPads and five Macs.

9to5Mac has a good rundown on how much stock you should put in the EEC when it comes to hinting at future products.

In August 2016, Apple filed trademarks for iPhone 7, Apple Watch Series 2, Apple Watch Series 1 and ‘AirPods’. Obviously, all four of these products were indeed unveiled at the September event a few weeks later; with the leak being one of the first mentions of the AirPods branding for Apple’s truly-wireless earbuds.

But that consistent track record took a hit in April, when Apple filed for nearly a dozen new iPhone model identifiers and then… nothing happened. Adding more doubt to these latest registry additions is that the new models are noted as running macOS High Sierra and iOS 11. That doesn’t make much sense for products that would likely be unveiled in September and ship with Apple’s latest macOS Mojave and iOS 12 software updates.

I’m rather excited for the next iPad Pro, though I’ve already accepted that a case will likely be mandatory to comfortable hold an all-screen tablet with tiny bezels. Meanwhile, plenty of folks are holding out for a revised MacBook Pro that focuses on professionals again — and a better keyboard.